Chapter Forty: The Transmigrator’s “Faith” in the Emperor
The mess hall of the "Imperial Truth" was so vast that it even contained a gigantic, self-contained plaza within its walls.
This plaza was set apart from the dining area, yet still inside the mess hall itself. Originally, it was filled with an abundance of exercise equipment. However, since the machines were all sized for ordinary humans, the travelers decided to donate every piece to the Ultramar Auxiliary Regiment, with whom they had fought side by side.
This left a wide open space in the mess hall, which the travelers promptly transformed into a "sacred" site for venerating the Emperor. They went so far as to have a statue of the Emperor shipped from the cities of Macragge to the “Imperial Truth” aboard a cargo vessel, moving it into the plaza and anchoring it firmly at the center.
Yet, unlike the formal practices of the Imperium, the travelers’ acts of devotion were distinctly local and personal.
“Be sure to handle the fresh antelope beef with care,” Wang Ming instructed as he handed the food crate to the head cook among the travelers. He spoke earnestly, knowing all too well that, if not treated properly, antelope beef could “devour” the eater.
“Don’t worry, boss! I graduated from the New Eastern Culinary Academy—I’ll take care of it,” the cook replied, patting his custom chef’s uniform, tailored for Astartes, as he assured Wang Ming with a boisterous grin.
Wang Ming nodded but added, “If you can’t manage, eating gorok is an option too.”
“Relax, I’ve got this,” the cook repeated, promising once again.
After giving his instructions, Wang Ming and Wang Xiaofa made their way to the “cathedral” the travelers had built for the Emperor. Behind them, the cook carefully placed the antelope beef into an adamantium chest, drew a compact plasma pistol, and began the arduous process of preparing the meat.
As Wang Ming and Wang Xiaofa stepped into the “cathedral,” they were instantly dumbfounded by the spectacle before them.
In the center of the plaza, the sacred statue of the Emperor stood, surrounded by other statues of varying sizes—all depictions of the Emperor. Before each one, travelers were honoring the Emperor in their own unique ways.
“Bodhisattva Emperor, O Great Orb of Light in the Warp, illuminate the path…” intoned one traveler, rhythmically beating a wooden fish as he recited his own revised prayer before a statue.
“Emperor above, and—wait, no—Holy Terra below, today the three of us swear brotherhood here. We don’t ask to be born the same day, but only to be resurrected together in the same year and month!” Three travelers, treating the Emperor as a stand-in for Lord Guan, were reenacting a sworn brotherhood oath.
“Limitless Heavenly Emperor, boundless psychic might, destroy all evil…” Another traveler, clad in a homemade “Taoist robe” and holding three sticks of incense, bowed thrice before a statue.
“Golden giant, grant us strength and height, so we can smash Chaos traitors with a single punch!” came the gruff voice of a greenskin player.
“Blood for the Emperor, skulls for the throne!” roared Hu Jin, commander of the Second Company, who, accompanied by several of his lieutenants, was performing a sacrificial rite before the Emperor’s statue.
Several Chaos Space Marine heads had been placed at the statue’s base as offerings to the Emperor. But, evidently, the Emperor was not fond of sacrifices: suddenly, faint golden sparks shimmered from the statue. The light gathered above it, forming a semi-transparent golden palm, which delivered a psychic slap to each of Hu Jin and his lieutenants.
Wang Ming: …
Wang Xiaofa: …
The scene before them left Wang Ming and Wang Xiaofa utterly speechless.
The travelers’ faith in the Emperor was nothing if not diverse: the Emperor as a Bodhisattva, as Lord Guan, as a Taoist Immortal, as the “Big Guy,” as the Blood God Emperor. If anyone knew how to liven things up, it was these travelers—and those golden slaps, too. Emperor, do you really have this much spare time?
Author: [Let’s have some fun in this chapter.]